Author: goodshepherdjericho

We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), committed to welcoming all to our Christian Community. Good Shepherd is located on Route 15, in Jericho, Vermont. Your journey here will be blessed with the beauty of the Green Mountains. Your time with us will be blessed with a warm welcome, inspiration and outstanding music.

Pentecost, May 31, 2020- John 17:1-11, Acts 2:1-21- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - A retired friend called me not long ago and said, “I’m about to take a sabbatical away from my daily routine. Even in retirement,” he said, “though I’m doing things I prefer than when working nine to five, I still… Continue reading Your Link in the Cycle and Web of Creation

7th Sunday of Easter, May 24, 2020- John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - On this last Sunday of Easter, known as Ascension Sunday, the Bible informs us that as Jesus was about to leave his disciples and ascend to heaven, they still expected him to deal with their immediate desire… Continue reading A New Deal: That They May All Be One

6th Sunday of Easter, May 17, 2020 ~ Mother's Day- Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 27:9-10, John 14:15-21- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Throughout scripture we are encouraged to trust that God will faithfully abide with us as our protector and shield against all kinds of danger, and will never abandon us. Jesus tried to… Continue reading I Will Not Leave You Orphaned

5th Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2020 ~ Mother's Day- John 14:1-14- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Have you ever been in a situation where the person who was speaking to you assumed you knew what he or she was talking about when, in fact, you hadn’t a clue? I admit, as a… Continue reading Clueless

4th Sunday of Easter, May 3, 2020- 1st Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The First Letter of Peter, written through the hands of his secretary Silvanus, was mindful of the household hierarchy of First Century Rome, which in turn, modeled the hierarchy of the empire; a hierarchy where men… Continue reading The Sacrificial Shepherd

3rd Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2020- Luke 24:13-35- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Have you ever had a spiritual encounter that you knew was as real as the air you breathed, yet you couldn’t share with even your closet friends convinced that they would discount it as imagined and unreal, and you… Continue reading The Journey Toward Awakening

Easter, April 12, 2020- Matthew 28:1-10- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Alleluia, Christ is risen! And the response of Christians throughout the world is, “Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!” However, I believe that the response of much of the world would be, “Oh really?” More than any other day of the year, Easter… Continue reading The Tomb Was Opened for Us to Enter

Maundy Thursday, April 9, 2020- John 13:1-17, 31b-35- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - During this time of physical separation from one another, from our sanctuary and church building, I am reminded of four things. The first is the benediction Laban offered to his nephew Jacob as they parted from one another. It has… Continue reading May the Lord Watch Between You and Me

Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020- Matthew 21:1-11- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - As a young pastor serving a church in a poor section of Little Rock, Arkansas, I joined a coalition of churches that successfully prevented X-rated movie houses and related industry from moving into an already depressed neighborhood. We were warned of… Continue reading Hosanna! Save Us from Ourselves!

5th Sunday of Lent, March 29, 2020- John 11:1-45, Ezekiel 37:1-14- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - I cannot read the story of Ezekiel raising skeletal bones to life, nor Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, without recalling the words to James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson’s song of spiritual jubilee called “Dem… Continue reading Those Dry Bones Will Walk